Tears, drama, and arguments ensued, but it was all worthwhile when Lauren Bell secured her first-ever five-wicket haul in an ODI match, helping England defeat New Zealand 3-0.
Lauren Bell discussed in detail for the first time the challenges of changing her bowling action while competing on the international scene, following her statistics of 5 for 37 from nine overs having helped restrict an improved White Ferns batting performance.
Lauren Bell remarked, “It was a great day, and it was nice to come out of today with some real success, it’s been a tricky few months.” Amy Jones and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s half-centuries had made sure her work had not gone to waste. “After returning from the New Zealand series, we decided to advance my career, improve as a bowler, and make a few adjustments to my technique.
“It has been challenging, of course, when you bowl a certain style for a given amount of time. I haven’t really been training; I’ve just been playing, but in the long run, it’s for the best, and today seems to indicate that it will help me advance. However, it is undeniably challenging to perform on a global scale.”
Lauren Bell ability to swing the ball both ways has emerged as a result of his mission to bowl more upright after England’s tour to New Zealand earlier this year.
Hints were evident during Bell’s triumphant white-ball series against Pakistan at the beginning of the English summer, and England captain Heather Knight praised Bell and others for their courage in attempting novel tactics during game situations.
Lauren Bell’s innings on Wednesday were her first since she was an Under-15 player, and although she mostly took wickets at the top of the stumps and back of the length, the tall seamer acknowledged that she had received tremendous encouragement from her teammates and the England coaching staff during the innings.
We reasoned that it would be safer if we could make me more upright because I fell off a lot. I should be quicker and I can bowl more since I’m taller, so I have more bounce,” the woman said. “So, the original idea was to give my bowling more pace, bounce, and uprightness, which in turn allowed me to be able to swing it both ways.
One of her biggest supporters has been Matt Mason, the fast bowling coach for England Women.
“I think he would’ve felt like a proud dad today,” Lauren Bell stated. Tears, drama, and arguments have all been experienced. He’s worked incredibly hard to bring me here and we work very closely together.
“I think my bowling coach knew that one thing was going to lead to another,” she said. “I think it got pretty exciting, and right now we’re just focusing on getting consistent enough to be able to bowl a wobble ball and swing it both ways.” I’m just going to have to learn it, but perhaps it will be incredibly thrilling in the end.
“Our recent breakthroughs and epiphanies have a lot to do with the mental aspect of it and how I approach it in a game. While training has been excellent, I’ve had to work a lot on my focus and concentration because when you play a game, it’s a whole other story. I believe I’ve moved two feet in; there’s really no going back now. I’m determined to see it through because I believe it’s best.
“I haven’t really had to worry about my bowling technique in a long time. My current change in action requires me to focus a lot, so I’ve learnt that I need to do that and have a few indicators that help. I concentrate on my cues and reset every ball. I’ve developed a small regimen over the past few months that I believe will help me greatly, particularly under pressure.”
The 23-year-old Bell earned her Test debut for England in the 2022 match at Taunton against South Africa. Anya Shrubsole, the World Cup-winning seamer who had just retired at the time and for whom Bell was considered a replacement, gave Bell her cap during the match.
She has now participated in three Tests, fourteen ODIs, and twenty T20Is. She is regarded as the cornerstone of England’s seam attack, which has made it more challenging for her to focus on long-term advantages up until this point.
“I definitely haven’t been used to having a few games in a row not quite going my way,” Lauren Bell stated. However, everyone I’ve spoken to has told me that, regrettably, that is the nature of professional sport; whether it’s as a result of a shift in circumstances or simply a bad run of form, it will happen and most likely will happen again, even to the world’s finest players. I’ve gained more experience from it, which will help me go forward in the future.
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